It came as a bit of a shock: sports are becoming more expensive for students and staff at universities and colleges. A sports pass could increase the cost by 500 euros per year, warns the universities association UNL.

This is due to the Ministry clarifying the financial rules in higher education. Educational institutions are now only allowed to spend money on education, research, and the dissemination of knowledge – not on sports (or culture, cafeterias, etc.).

“This is, to say the least, quite disastrous,” says Luuk Minnaar, president of Student Sports Netherlands. Around 120,000 students from MBO, HBO, and universities are involved in student sports centers, he says. There are about 400 student sports clubs using the facilities.

Strong action

The National Student Union (LSVb) believes it’s “time for strong action” now that the government is putting students’ health at risk, says president Abdelkader Karbache. “Students are being bullied again by this coalition.” He says he’s receiving a lot of worried responses, so it won’t be hard to get students mobilized.

What does the union plan to do? “We could, for example, row in the Hofvijver in The Hague or stand with vuvuzelas outside the Ministry,” he says. “But hopefully, the House of Representatives will block the plan. We’ll wait and see.”

Municipalities are also expected to face problems because of this policy, Karbache predicts. “Where will those sports students go next?” Local governments currently support local sports clubs, but what will be left of that if student sports are added to their responsibilities?

Mental health and connection

The news has indeed caused unrest in municipal councils, says Member of Parliament Luc Stultiens from GroenLinks-PvdA. In cities like Rotterdam, Nijmegen, Groningen, Wageningen, and Tilburg, factions from his party have posed questions to municipal officials: What will happen here? And do they want to raise the issue in The Hague?

In Eindhoven, council members have also asked questions to municipal officials. “Sports are important not only for physical health but also for mental health. It provides connection, social contact, and is an essential part of student life – and thus of the city of Eindhoven,” says Sep Wittenbols, council member for GroenLinks Eindhoven.

“Bizarre measure”

In response to this “bizarre measure by the government,” he, along with PvdA and D66, has posed questions in the city council. They want to know the financial impact on the Eindhoven Student Sports Center and the 38 student sports associations. They also want to know what steps the municipality will take to ensure access to sports for students.

“It’s incredibly important that sports remain affordable and accessible for students,” says Wittenbols. “Students are already facing difficulties with the issues surrounding the basic grant and the rise in tuition fees. Now this comes on top of it.” He fears the negative long-term effects on students and wants to continue working with his party to prevent this. “Let’s not drop them hard now – we need to do everything in our power to stop this measure.”

Luc Stultiens, Member of Parliament, fears that “not everyone realizes what this means.” To change the government’s mind, he plans to submit a motion soon. He hopes to gain support from a majority in the House.

He is confident. “The new policy solves no problems. And from left to right, everyone in the House of Representatives supports the importance of student well-being and sports.”

Lobbying

Student organizations are also doing their best to speak with political parties about this. “It’s a heavy blow to student sports clubs,” says Mylou Miché, president of the Intercity Student Organization.

She says that the policy is already causing damage and that new investments in sports facilities are being postponed. She hopes that the House of Representatives will quickly call the minister to account. “Let’s give student sports an exemption. Sports should not be lost just because the rules are suddenly being interpreted differently.”

State attorney

Minister Eppo Bruins of Education, Culture, and Science (OCW) remains firm in his stance. He wants to “guard the boundaries of public funding” and avoid disturbing the market. He refers to an opinion from the state attorney to justify his position.

However, this opinion states that an exception is possible for matters in the public interest. Local governments have applied this exception “for example, to offer sports facilities at below-cost prices,” the opinion says. “The policy rule does not provide for such an exception, but this is conceivable.”